New INFOgraphic sponsored by Elster with analysis from Zpryme reveals that 69 percent of Smart Grid executives "strongly agree" that the potential for utilizing aspects of electricity's advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) within distribution automation (DA) is very high.

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- As shown in a new INFOgraphic, a Zpryme survey of 223 Smart Grid executives sponsored by Elster reveals that 69 percent of Smart Grid executives "strongly agree" that the potential for utilizing aspects of electricity's advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) within distribution automation (DA) is very high, while 60 percent anticipate that "utilities" will be the key stakeholders that will benefit most from investments in DA - AMI convergence.

The findings shown in the Elster Answers Study 2012 INFOgraphic, released today reveal that utilities and integrators across the Smart Grid ecosystem are exploring new ways to operate more efficiently, from greater asset manageability to reducing peak energy consumption. Although Smart Grid investments span a broad range of technologies, today's utilities are zeroing in on DA systems and AMI to support monitoring and remote control of the power system.

Elster has developed EnergyAxis®, a complete suite of metrology and communications solutions for the smart grid.

"Based on the Elster sponsored survey, almost a third of respondents cited 'improved reliability' as the best justification for investing in DA. AMI-DA convergence not only providesthe components needed to enable a robust host of applications, but also help secure a utility's business operation sustainability for the long term," said Jason S. Rodriguez, CEO & Director of Research, Zpryme. "Utilities that implement a multi-prong DA/AMI approach ensure operational durability."

With more 170 years of experience, Elster Solutions has built a reputation on providing cutting-edge technologies to deliver world class products, systems and services to utility clients worldwide. Elster Solutions has two main areas of business - electricity metering products and Smart Metering and Smart Grid system solutions. Elster Solutions engineers fully interoperable smart electricity metering products through custom-made options for utility customers and award-winning end-to-end solutions for the Smart Grid with EnergyAxis, a multi-utility advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system for water, gas and electricity around the world.